Himes flies back to D.C. with Obama

Published 8:00 pm, Saturday, September 19, 2009

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President Barack Obama talks with, from left, Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-NY, Rep. Jim Himes, D-CT, and Rep. Barney Frank, D-Ma., on Air Force One on the flight from JFK to Andrews Air Force Base, Monday, Sept. 14, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) This official White House photograph is being made available only for publication by news organizations and/or for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photograph. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way and may not be used in commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, promotions that in any way suggests approval or endorsement of the President, the First Family, or the White House.

It is almost 4:15 on Monday afternoon. Air Force One has just landed on the tarmac at Andrews Air Force Base in nearby Maryland. President Barack Obama exits the plane first and gets onto Marine One, the presidential helicopter, to be taken back to the White House.

"It was the first time I have ever flown with Air Force One," Himes said in a telephone interview. "It is a beautiful plane. Any time you are in the presence of an American president, it is an awesome feeling. Even if he is still a young guy, it is pretty impressive to be around him."

Reps. Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y., and Barney Frank, D-Mass., chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, also flew back on Air Force One. They were in New York City for the president's economic address on Wall Street, which came on the one-year anniversary of the collapse of Lehman Brothers.

Himes, a member of the Financial Services Committee and a former Goldman Sachs investment banker, said he thinks he got the invitation because he has been actively involved in the committee.

"It was a very good afternoon," Himes said. "I had the chance to chat with the president a little bit about health-care reform and a little bit about financial-regulatory reform. That was a very useful moment." He said he encouraged Obama to remember how important it is that significant cost savings be found in the health system.

On their way back, President Obama and the congressmen had gyros -- Greek lamb kabobs in pita bread -- for lunch, according to Himes' press secretary.

Himes sent a Tweet later: "President was kind enough to offer me a lift to DC on his plane. POTUS travels well. Wondering if rude to swipe the AF1 M&Ms."

According to the staff member who picked Himes up at Andrews Air Force Base, the preparations were many and complicated.

"I had to send my Social Security number, date of birth and model of my car to a White House liaison in the Office of Legislative Affairs. The White House liaison relayed that information to Andrews, so they knew I would be coming," said the staff member, who asked not to be identified.

The staff member said as they were leaving the base, they noticed Air Force Two was on the tarmac near Air Force One.

"We weren't sure why it was there at the time, but later found out that Vice President Biden was leaving from Andrews for a trip to Iraq shortly after the president arrived from New York," she said.

"They were readying Air Force Two for his departure," she said. "Both planes together was quite the sight."